Not much has changed in the overall scheme of things. While many slopes avalanched as a result of last weeks big storm, a lot of our steep terrain hangs in the balance waiting for a trigger to come along and knock the legs out from under the slab. Upper elevation, steep, rocky terrain facing the north half of the compass is the common denominator. Today's new snow will be light and fluffy and make us forget the inherently sketchy structure we're riding on. One thing is certain- once triggered, today's avalanches have the potential to break wide and deep, taking out the entire seasons snowpack, producing a very dangerous and possibly unsurvivable slide. Even if you're carving in low angle meadows make sure there's no steep slopes above or adjacent to where you're riding.

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On Saturday, this slide in the Superbowl was triggered low on the slope and broke into old snow around the steep, rocky, windloaded break-over. Fortunately the rider came out unscathed and all is good.

Yesterdays gusty winds and new snow created sensitive wind drifts along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges. While today's soft slabs might not be quite as reactive, remember that avalanches triggered within the new snow can easily break into deeper buried weak layers as they crash down onto the slope below. This chain of events would quickly turn a manageable avalanche into something you didn't bargain for. Best to play it safe and avoid steep, wind drifted slopes.